Sunday, August 31, 2008
Breakthrough!
I just used a squat toilet for the first time. I feel free and liberated. I feel...set free. I shan't be bound to the western-style toilet in the dorm any longer! It was today, a few minutes ago, at the 黑糖咖啡馆 in Xiamen. This moment will be forever set in my memories.
Negro
I'm black, and I'm in China.
I'm used to being black and in China, and what that means. Or at least I thought I did. This place is better than Beijing for the sheer fact, being on a college campus, people have a little more education and with that comes, well, more decorum. They stare, but they keep their distance, and usually the stares only follow me for as long as I'm in front of their faces, and not when I'm far into the distance.
I'm the only black person in our program, and while there are a few more who dot the campus, my intimates are all either white or Asian. That's fine, but I definitely get more attention than anyone else. For example, this morning on our way out the main gate, a group of giggly Chinese girls took a group picture of us, but after a few snaps they moved in and focused on me. It was flattering, and I would have worked some fierce posses if I weren't hot, bloated, and working on sweating through the first shirt of the day (it's so f*cking hot here).
There is no blending in for me. And most people know how sometimes I like to fly under the radar (a palendrom). I like to go incognito, and sometimes I don't like to be seen by large numbers of people. I get a little...anxious? It manifests in a few ways, like at work when I prefer to work the bar or be busy with other tasks instead of working the register and having to greet everyone. I'm generally not like that, but being in a situation like China where I like to sit back and observe, I'm denied the privilege. Wherever, and I do mean wherever, I go here, 1 out of every 4 people will notice me and react in one of several ways:
1) the open-mouth gaping stare;
2) the smile and polite little wave;
3) "heroo";
4) the look of surprise, then quick turning away;
5) indifference (mainly on campus);
6) the "what's up my nigga" nod (when someone knods his head in an upward motion, similar to the one black men give each other in the US...someone has been watching his BET, I see);
7) the grab the person next to you so they can see too, PARTICULARLY with small children, as I might be their only opportunity to see a black person for several years.
I'm trying to remain good natured about it, and usually I'm pretty good. Sometimes, though, I get the urge to retreat back to my dorm and nurse my wounds. It doesn't help that no one else really gets it except the island dude I met the other day, Joae, since all the other internationals here are Asians and whites. I guess blacks aren't feeling the Asian thing too much.
If I become a rich man, I will set up a true afro-asian exchange program. I think that my community, for the most, is really sitting on the opportunities that await in Asia. Whites and Asians don't really hesitate, for the most part, to get on a plane and see some shit. Blacks might make it to Europe, or they may go south to Latin America, but Asia has been largely off limits to them. Ironically, there is an increasingly large Chinese presence in Africa because of the trade of oil for infrastructure, but not really in reverse. Chinese people will not stop staring until they find our presence here a usual thing because why should they think it rude, unnerving to the observed, or hostile? It's curiosity more than anything, and I can appreciate it that people want to see a handsome Negro man up close and personal.
Hey, check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie
(on the picture on the right, it literally says "black people" across the top of the tube)
It's all flattery, really. And other times, when I'm not in the mood, it feels like there is something hideous of my face that I wasn't smart enough to remove before leaving the room. One day that will happen, I'll be unsure if people are looking at me for the spinach or the blackness. When the happens, I guess I'll be at a loss for words.
I'm used to being black and in China, and what that means. Or at least I thought I did. This place is better than Beijing for the sheer fact, being on a college campus, people have a little more education and with that comes, well, more decorum. They stare, but they keep their distance, and usually the stares only follow me for as long as I'm in front of their faces, and not when I'm far into the distance.
I'm the only black person in our program, and while there are a few more who dot the campus, my intimates are all either white or Asian. That's fine, but I definitely get more attention than anyone else. For example, this morning on our way out the main gate, a group of giggly Chinese girls took a group picture of us, but after a few snaps they moved in and focused on me. It was flattering, and I would have worked some fierce posses if I weren't hot, bloated, and working on sweating through the first shirt of the day (it's so f*cking hot here).
There is no blending in for me. And most people know how sometimes I like to fly under the radar (a palendrom). I like to go incognito, and sometimes I don't like to be seen by large numbers of people. I get a little...anxious? It manifests in a few ways, like at work when I prefer to work the bar or be busy with other tasks instead of working the register and having to greet everyone. I'm generally not like that, but being in a situation like China where I like to sit back and observe, I'm denied the privilege. Wherever, and I do mean wherever, I go here, 1 out of every 4 people will notice me and react in one of several ways:
1) the open-mouth gaping stare;
2) the smile and polite little wave;
3) "heroo";
4) the look of surprise, then quick turning away;
5) indifference (mainly on campus);
6) the "what's up my nigga" nod (when someone knods his head in an upward motion, similar to the one black men give each other in the US...someone has been watching his BET, I see);
7) the grab the person next to you so they can see too, PARTICULARLY with small children, as I might be their only opportunity to see a black person for several years.
I'm trying to remain good natured about it, and usually I'm pretty good. Sometimes, though, I get the urge to retreat back to my dorm and nurse my wounds. It doesn't help that no one else really gets it except the island dude I met the other day, Joae, since all the other internationals here are Asians and whites. I guess blacks aren't feeling the Asian thing too much.
If I become a rich man, I will set up a true afro-asian exchange program. I think that my community, for the most, is really sitting on the opportunities that await in Asia. Whites and Asians don't really hesitate, for the most part, to get on a plane and see some shit. Blacks might make it to Europe, or they may go south to Latin America, but Asia has been largely off limits to them. Ironically, there is an increasingly large Chinese presence in Africa because of the trade of oil for infrastructure, but not really in reverse. Chinese people will not stop staring until they find our presence here a usual thing because why should they think it rude, unnerving to the observed, or hostile? It's curiosity more than anything, and I can appreciate it that people want to see a handsome Negro man up close and personal.
Hey, check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie
(on the picture on the right, it literally says "black people" across the top of the tube)
It's all flattery, really. And other times, when I'm not in the mood, it feels like there is something hideous of my face that I wasn't smart enough to remove before leaving the room. One day that will happen, I'll be unsure if people are looking at me for the spinach or the blackness. When the happens, I guess I'll be at a loss for words.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Pictures
I never was so happy to touch land before. I bought some Nicorrette gum to make my time on the plane more durable, not being able to smoke at all, and it work. This sign is from the Incheon airport, and shows that having a sign in English and Spanish really isn't that big of a deal. It could be worse.
Korean Caribou, which happened to be right beside my gate. It wasn't like I was looking for it or anything >_>
Fat-ass Americans and their large sizes. Their Americano was pretty good, although it lacked a good crema at the top and, well, was automatic. I miss the sound of clanging, as now it seems like the sound of true coffee-making.
Oh, damn Xiamen. My ass belongs in Nagoya!
The sun rising over the mountains at the Korean airport. It was truly beautiful. And then...being next to a glass wall, it got f*qing hot.
There's a contrast developing between those who know and those who aren't familiar with Chinese customs and habits. Although the language barrier that some of us have is a big indication, other things are also coming into play, such as customs when eating, serving drinks, treating guest, etc. I remember when all that shit was knew to me, so it's great to be on the other end of the confusing and being able to help out in any way that I can. I like being able to say, "well, you know..." 'cause I wish someone had told that shit to me when I went to China last year. And they did tell me a lot, those kind people up North in Beijing, but there are some things like "how do I beautify the can of used toilet paper in my bathroom since I can't flush it down the drain" that would have helped me in the monkey see-monkey do phase of things.
Today, we had our welcoming ceremony which was mainly a power-point and some speeches, and then we had the opportunity to climb to the tallest building on campus and look down on it all. From 21 stories, I could see the ocean and the sea blend together, the small islands just off the coast, the chaos and the perfect blending of nature and man-made structure...I got a little sad after that, and went off by myself.
My life is too beautiful right now. My grandma just had surgery, however, and is feeling unnaturally bad from it. Pray for her, please.
God bless
Making it
Today, most of the student sin our program. It was refreshing to see them, and for most of our time together I got the feeling htat some great friends will be made. Really, while a lot of people tend to be held by false ideas of popularity, and while lost in illusions they carried on from high school, being away from what you find comfortable (except, of course, for the UNC students who have Chinese passports) really allows for people to connect with one another as individuals, and not just by outside artificial conventions (i.e. the image we've worked so hard to create our entire lives, like everything else, will fade away into the dust).
I'm myself here in Chinese because there are few reprecussions to my actions, and I'm not held to the same social standards and obligations that might keep me bound at home. In additions, knowing what little I know of Chinese culture and language affords me more freedom that, say, the backpacking foreigner who thinks everything that glitters of foreigness is inherently better than his own culture, and most be fawned over so he will appear cool in conversations with people from home. Knowing a thing or two about the culture you're visiting lets you be more independent, less reliant on people, although all the Chinese I once knew appears to have vanished along with my notion of trying to lose weight. I'm already sexy enough.
Our rooms are like hotel room. Two beds, a TV, a water heater, a vanity, two phones connected to the wall. It's all nice and sterile, like they're telling you politely that they don't want you to stay "fo' real real," but "jus' fo' play play." I have to keep that in mind myself, that this place is not my new home. Yet 3 months... I think the time is really starting to hit me. 3 months is a long f*cking time, especially since I can't hop in my car, Bertha-Nellie, and get to places in case something happens.
Anyway, the campus is GORGEOUS. If you walk to one side of the dorm, you can see mountains, and on the other side is an ocean view. The architecture of the buildings demonstrate a key lesson in life and fashion--don't do something you know you have no business doing, but enhance your natural beauty. The buildings have the characteristic sloping Asian roofs, red tiles, great placement of rocks and bodies of water, and has a supermarket, bank, several gyms, and is a mile long. Its like UNC, only everything is cheaper and instead of a sea of white people, there are the Chinese.
The city is so beautiful and a lot more peaceful than the capitol, Beijing. There are lots of great restaurants just outside of our gates and other shops. A highlight is a vegetarian restaurant just around the corner, or the 1-kuai-1-bao-zi resturant with its sweet pork bao-zi (think of a dumpling, but puffier).
Our guardian here is Li Yan-bo, and she's a super sweet gradstudent, so generous, who has taken great care of us. I havea number in Chinese now, a debit account, and othe rammenities all to her doing. Without her, I'd be lost and more lonly than ever. All I need to do now is focus on that damn Chinese :-(
Cute guys are here, but they're short like I feared. I need a Beijing-er to show me some love.
My hair is cute, and I look clean, slim, professional, and regal. When my stomach normalizes, I'll be ready to take on the world.
I'm optimistic, and I think I will live more naturally since I'll be here for a semster. As long as I don't get sick, I thin k I'll do well here.
FYI--I wanted to write in an essay format, but if you have ADD like me, then I'll continue to write in list form. If you happen to want anymore details about something, just ask~!--
Cute alert: there's a certain someone from another country here who wears size 14 shoes, has dinner-plate sized hands, and has a long torso. While Mike is in England, I believe, busy with aquatic shit, I think this person will do just fine. I chatted him up really well, so lets see how it goes from here.
I'm myself here in Chinese because there are few reprecussions to my actions, and I'm not held to the same social standards and obligations that might keep me bound at home. In additions, knowing what little I know of Chinese culture and language affords me more freedom that, say, the backpacking foreigner who thinks everything that glitters of foreigness is inherently better than his own culture, and most be fawned over so he will appear cool in conversations with people from home. Knowing a thing or two about the culture you're visiting lets you be more independent, less reliant on people, although all the Chinese I once knew appears to have vanished along with my notion of trying to lose weight. I'm already sexy enough.
Our rooms are like hotel room. Two beds, a TV, a water heater, a vanity, two phones connected to the wall. It's all nice and sterile, like they're telling you politely that they don't want you to stay "fo' real real," but "jus' fo' play play." I have to keep that in mind myself, that this place is not my new home. Yet 3 months... I think the time is really starting to hit me. 3 months is a long f*cking time, especially since I can't hop in my car, Bertha-Nellie, and get to places in case something happens.
Anyway, the campus is GORGEOUS. If you walk to one side of the dorm, you can see mountains, and on the other side is an ocean view. The architecture of the buildings demonstrate a key lesson in life and fashion--don't do something you know you have no business doing, but enhance your natural beauty. The buildings have the characteristic sloping Asian roofs, red tiles, great placement of rocks and bodies of water, and has a supermarket, bank, several gyms, and is a mile long. Its like UNC, only everything is cheaper and instead of a sea of white people, there are the Chinese.
The city is so beautiful and a lot more peaceful than the capitol, Beijing. There are lots of great restaurants just outside of our gates and other shops. A highlight is a vegetarian restaurant just around the corner, or the 1-kuai-1-bao-zi resturant with its sweet pork bao-zi (think of a dumpling, but puffier).
Our guardian here is Li Yan-bo, and she's a super sweet gradstudent, so generous, who has taken great care of us. I havea number in Chinese now, a debit account, and othe rammenities all to her doing. Without her, I'd be lost and more lonly than ever. All I need to do now is focus on that damn Chinese :-(
Cute guys are here, but they're short like I feared. I need a Beijing-er to show me some love.
My hair is cute, and I look clean, slim, professional, and regal. When my stomach normalizes, I'll be ready to take on the world.
I'm optimistic, and I think I will live more naturally since I'll be here for a semster. As long as I don't get sick, I thin k I'll do well here.
FYI--I wanted to write in an essay format, but if you have ADD like me, then I'll continue to write in list form. If you happen to want anymore details about something, just ask~!--
Cute alert: there's a certain someone from another country here who wears size 14 shoes, has dinner-plate sized hands, and has a long torso. While Mike is in England, I believe, busy with aquatic shit, I think this person will do just fine. I chatted him up really well, so lets see how it goes from here.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Travel
I only shed a few tears, saying goodbye to my mom and other family, and then I moved swiftly into attack mode (I had a mission to accomplish). Getting to my gate with little hassle, I was watching CNN only to discover that on the day I was to travel, set months in advance, the FAA in Atlanta had a major computer glitch, causing delays all over the nation. I talked to my cousin, Shanika, who came to the airport to see me off and who was the first ot tell me I was delayed. Luckily, it was only for about 30 minutes. I bet there are still people sitting there, in the RDU terminal, waiting for their flights to come...
JFK's layover was unremarkable. I remember the construction of the airport was on the old side. Their aiport does need a little more seating...nothing more, really. I had a 6 hour layover, so plenty of time to think about these things.
My flight on Korean Air was or-gas-mic! I've flown internationally on American, United, and now I'm sure that Asian airlines are the way to go. Although you would think the seats would be smaller (Asians generally have less max in their gluts), it's actually the contrary. I had plenty of room, and the plane wasn't even fully seated, so there was a seat between me and my fellow passenger. I also got the coveted aisle seat, so my fear of climbing over people to pee was eliminated. Also, I got to choose between Korean and Western food, so I chose Korean and was treated to a lovely dish of bibimbop, a spicy rice, seaweed, and what-looked-like-mushroom concoction., The attendant gave me a sheet of direction on how to eat it, but they weren't needed as this dude named Walter, a Korean studying Swiss massage in NYC, just up and grabbed my bowl and started mixing stuff together. Thank God for him, but of course the American in me was taken aback. Walter and I didn't talk anymore until the flight ended, but he was so cool I had to get the virtual digits ^_^. Hopefully, more about him later! Korea Air's interface is also the biz-ness! So many options: Freecell, entire CDs (Dwele to Big Mama to F4), movies from all over the world... I was thoroughly entertained.
My gate at the Inchon airport (16) was also next to the only international Caribous Coffee! What a coincidence. I had an Americano that wasn't too bad, and saw my first automatic machine. It was a cute little kiosk, but a very prosperous one indeed. Pictures will be up later--I forgot to being my camera to this coffee shop--book shop hybrid. I'm surrounded by studious Chinese people. I'm feel at home.
My Irish coffee was served in wine glass. Oh, China, even your elegance is so different from my own!
*I'm too pressed for time and lazy to edit. Sorry in advance. When I can update from my dorm room, things will be better*
离厦大很近的咖啡馆儿
JFK's layover was unremarkable. I remember the construction of the airport was on the old side. Their aiport does need a little more seating...nothing more, really. I had a 6 hour layover, so plenty of time to think about these things.
My flight on Korean Air was or-gas-mic! I've flown internationally on American, United, and now I'm sure that Asian airlines are the way to go. Although you would think the seats would be smaller (Asians generally have less max in their gluts), it's actually the contrary. I had plenty of room, and the plane wasn't even fully seated, so there was a seat between me and my fellow passenger. I also got the coveted aisle seat, so my fear of climbing over people to pee was eliminated. Also, I got to choose between Korean and Western food, so I chose Korean and was treated to a lovely dish of bibimbop, a spicy rice, seaweed, and what-looked-like-mushroom concoction., The attendant gave me a sheet of direction on how to eat it, but they weren't needed as this dude named Walter, a Korean studying Swiss massage in NYC, just up and grabbed my bowl and started mixing stuff together. Thank God for him, but of course the American in me was taken aback. Walter and I didn't talk anymore until the flight ended, but he was so cool I had to get the virtual digits ^_^. Hopefully, more about him later! Korea Air's interface is also the biz-ness! So many options: Freecell, entire CDs (Dwele to Big Mama to F4), movies from all over the world... I was thoroughly entertained.
My gate at the Inchon airport (16) was also next to the only international Caribous Coffee! What a coincidence. I had an Americano that wasn't too bad, and saw my first automatic machine. It was a cute little kiosk, but a very prosperous one indeed. Pictures will be up later--I forgot to being my camera to this coffee shop--book shop hybrid. I'm surrounded by studious Chinese people. I'm feel at home.
My Irish coffee was served in wine glass. Oh, China, even your elegance is so different from my own!
*I'm too pressed for time and lazy to edit. Sorry in advance. When I can update from my dorm room, things will be better*
离厦大很近的咖啡馆儿
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Maiden Voyage
Hello! This is Derek's blog about his adventures in China. He has a week left in the states, so he doesn't know if the Chinese gov will even let him post on his blog..."reform and opening up" my behind.
Haha, did you get that?
I got a lot to do within this last week, but I hope that address can serve as a way of staying up-to-date on all the sights and sounds I get to experience this Fall. I'll do better this time, I swear, and keep a concise collection. This blog shall be rated PG-13 unless otherwise noted.
God created us all in His image. It is a privilege to witness the many ways His presence is reflected in humanity.
Haha, did you get that?
I got a lot to do within this last week, but I hope that address can serve as a way of staying up-to-date on all the sights and sounds I get to experience this Fall. I'll do better this time, I swear, and keep a concise collection. This blog shall be rated PG-13 unless otherwise noted.
God created us all in His image. It is a privilege to witness the many ways His presence is reflected in humanity.
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